Gary John Kirkeby's Obituary
Gary John Kirkeby passed away on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024.
Gary was born on October 27, 1944, in Valley City, ND and was an army veteran, serving in Vietnam from 1968-1969 as a Chaplains Assistant.
He received his undergraduate degree in both vocal and instrumental music from the University of North Dakota and master’s degree from Minnesota State University at Moorhead. He also held the Licentiate and Fellow Diploma in Vocal Performance from Trinity College of Music, London, England.
He also had additional graduate study at the University of Colorado and the University of Arizona. He was an avid participant in the Master Classes led by Metropolitan Opera soprano, Phyllis Curtin at Tanglewood, Massachusetts as well as a student of John Wakefield and Ilse Wolf while in London.
Gary has been awarded the “Outstanding American Student” by Trinity College of Music and is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music. He has appeared in numerous solo recitals, oratorio and opera in the United States and Europe.
In 1978, he accepted a teaching position at the College of Southern Idaho where he also played cello in the orchestra. Gary was the professor of music at Prince George’s Community College for forty years and made numerous appearances there as a solo recitalist and conductor of the college choral groups and chairperson of the music department.
For thirty-three years, Gary served as Organist and Director of Music at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Leeland, MD. While at St. Barnabas Church he developed and directed the Candlelight Concert Series which flourished for over twenty-five years. He was also a board member and frequent performer with the Prince George’s Philharmonic and a member of the organ historical society.
Gary enjoyed travelling to Europe for many years, researching music and arts curriculum for the classes he taught at the Community College.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Martin Clifford and Beulah Grace Kirkeby and is survived by his beloved wife Mary and their sons Mark Robert Kirkeby and his wife Jennifer, and John Martin Kirkeby and his partner Tamara, as well as his brother Richard Dallas Kirkeby, nieces, and close friends.
Services will be held at St. Margaret's Church, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, MD on June 22 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gary’s memory to a musical organization of your choice.
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